When you buy a game, do you actually own it?
In short: Many modern video games are sold as permanent purchases but function as temporary leases. When a publisher shuts down the servers, the game can become instantly unplayable. A new consumer movement is fighting to ensure that what you buy remains yours to play, even after the company moves on.
The movement, known as Stop Killing Games (SKG), gained momentum in 2024 following the shutdown of Ubisoft's 'The Crew.' Although a 2014 racing game, it required a constant internet connection for both single-player and multiplayer modes. When Ubisoft delisted the game and shut down its servers on March 31, 2024, many players lost access to the product they had purchased. Founder Ross Scott compares this practice to silent film studios burning their own films to recover silver content, leading to the permanent loss of cultural media.
The core issue lies in the industry trend of selling games as revocable licenses rather than products. SKG argues that publishers should be legally required to leave games in a reasonably functional state—such as by providing an offline mode or private server options—once they discontinue support. The movement does not demand infinite updates; it seeks to prevent the unilateral rendering of purchased software as obsolete. This is particularly pressing as digital rights management (DRM) systems have made private server options increasingly difficult to maintain.
The campaign has utilized diverse legal and political avenues, including a UK Parliament petition and a European Citizens' Initiative (ECI) renamed 'Stop Destroying Videogames.' The ECI reached a final signature count of approximately 1,448,271 by July 31, 2025, making it eligible for debate in the European Commission. While some skeptics point to the costs of preservation or issues with licensed content, the movement emphasizes that games are a legitimate art form deserving of protection from 'digital obsolescence.'
While the movement prioritizes countries with strong consumer protection laws like France and Germany, it faces hurdles in others. For instance, the UK government stated in February 2025 that it had no immediate plans to amend consumer laws regarding digital obsolescence. However, the movement continues to advocate for transparency and fairness, aiming to shift the power balance between massive publishers and the consumers who fund the industry.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Stop Killing Games
- Also: Wikidata — Stop Killing Games · CC0
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